2004 Toyota 4RUNNER Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 36about this part
- Share
- 5%of 678 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 72,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 36 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER, 5% of the 678 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 72,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Transmission would not shift in motion leaving from a stop sign. I later found out my transmission lines had corroded away leaking a large amount of transmission fluid. After replacing brakes and adding brake fluid I noticed the brake fluid had leaked from bottom. I had to replace all brake lines and fittings due to corrosion.”
NHTSA complaint #11322167, filed 2020-04, 190,000 miles“1. There is a serious clunk noise when taking my foot off the brake from a stop. 2. My vehicle makes a loud noise when stopped at an intersection combined with a surging forward as if being rear ended. 3. When applying the brakes, after it has been sitting for a number of hours, it shakes and bangs extremely violently.”
NHTSA complaint #10217737, filed 2008-02, 2,000 miles“Driving down the local highway, smelled transmission fluid burning. Pulled over to find transmission fluid leaking from under the radiator area. I was near the garage that works on the vehicle and was able to drive there. Skid plate was removed and the transmission lines that run along the radiator support frame rusted through. The mechanic servicing the vehicle said I was lucky, that this could have caused transmission failure and or fire in the engine compartment while driving. …”
NHTSA complaint #10658731, filed 2014-11, 85,400 miles“I was driving on the freeway at 60 MPH and tapped on the gas pedal and it became stuck and rapidly accelerated the car. I had to shift the car to neutral and tap the brakes in order to get the gas pedal unstuck. The car had been on cruise control earlier but at the time that the gas pedal was stuck cruise control was off. Hitting the brake did not immediately disengage the gas pedal as would be expected if it was on cruise control.”
NHTSA complaint #10333845, filed 2010-05, 107,000 miles“I was going 5 MPH and hit my brakes. The control arm was ripped from the frame due to rot/rust. Toyota is aware of this problem for 4runners, but has only offered assistance on the tacoma and tundras. The body of my vehicle has no rust anywhere, and the mileage is extremely low. I cannot even find a mechanic to fix it, because the frame is so bad. I was told, if it gets fixed, another part of the frame may fail when I'm cruising on the highway and people could get hurt or killed. No mechanic wants this liability in doing a repair.”
NHTSA complaint #10731909, filed 2015-07, 72,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10142876Jun 8, 2018TSB: REVISION NOTICE June 8, 2018 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to exclude 2016 ? 2017 model year Tacoma vehicles. ? The Repair Procedure section has been updated. May…
- 10134454Aug 24, 2015TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
- 10111564May 20, 2015TSB: Some 2004 - 2015 model year Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, and 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a cyclical grinding or groaning noise coming from the front differential in 2WD that goes…
- 10111181May 20, 2015TSB: Some 2004 - 2015 model year Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, and 4Runner vehicles may exhibit a cyclical grinding or groaning noise coming from the front differential in 2WD that goes…
- 10109405Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information regarding transmission and/or park neutral position switch installation. If the manual shift lever is rotated prior to…
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109403Oct 16, 2014TSB: World Standard (WS) Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) was introduced to reduce maintenance costs and increase the mileage between scheduled maintenance checks. Here are…
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
- 10133773Mar 31, 2014As part of the settlement described above, Toyota will install Smart Stop Technology on the above listed model and model year vehicles. This feature will cut engine power in case…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 43% |
| 2025 | 2 | 3% |
| 2023 | 2 | 6% |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 4 | 6% |
| 2018 | 3 | 5% |
| 2017 | 1 | 3% |
| 2016 | 6 | 7% |
| 2015 | 4 | 5% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 3% |
| 2011 | 6 | 4% |
| 2010 | 5 | 3% |
| 2009 | 10 | 45% |
| 2008 | 27 | 28% |
| 2007 | 11 | 7% |
| 2006 | 30 | 8% |
| 2005 | 25 | 6% |
| 2004 | 36 | 5% |
| 2003 | 39 | 6% |
| 2002 | 33 | 15% |
| 2001 | 32 | 17% |
| 2000 | 42 | 9% |
| 1999 | 23 | 7% |
| 1998 | 12 | 5% |
| 1997 | 25 | 10% |
| 1996 | 5 | 3% |
| 1995 | 14 | 8% |
| 1994 | 3 | 5% |
| 1993 | 3 | 6% |
| 1992 | 4 | 8% |
| 1991 | 5 | 12% |
| 1990 | 14 | 18% |
| 1988 | 2 | 22% |
| 1987 | 2 | 40% |
Other parts of the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER
310 complaintsOther or unknown
121 complaintsSuspension
113 complaintsBrakes
82 complaintsAir bags
37 complaintsVehicle speed control
34 complaintsSteering
32 complaintsEngine cooling
25 complaintsElectrical system
22 complaintsEngine
18 complaintsElectronic stability control
15 complaintsSeats
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology